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What's Pocasting? |
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So here is the a little bit more about the medium of “Podcasting” - a term that I’ll use interchangeably with “audiocasting”. This really is likely to be, in my somewhat informed opinion, yet another major change in the way people connect with one another and share information. In fact, the world of FREE audio books, shows, and content that are already available on the internet has been a revelation to me. And the concept is still relatively in its infancy, but growing by the minute! So what is a podcast? Well essentially it is a broadcast distribution of an audio (and/or video) program by way of a relatively new, web-based “transmission” standard. The transmission is called RSS, which stands for Real Simple Syndication. But you don’t need to know that. What you will want to know is that these recurring programs are “transmitted” and can be received by your IPOD, your computer, or many other audio listening devices and MP3 players – automatically. To receive these automatic broadcasts, you need some type of software that receives the RSS signal. This is built into the itunes music software, which can be downloaded for free from Apple - but works on any PC! (For this an other links to "podcatching" software, click here.) The sound files used for audiocasts are MP3’s, and are good quality sound files. Despite the potentially confusing term “Podcasting”, which is a combination of the words “broadcast” and “I-pod”, you do NOT have to own an Apple I-Pod to listen to subscribe and listen to podcasts. You can use podcatching software as described, or this site and many others also allow any web surfer to listen via a player on the web site. The only disadvantage of that method is that listeners don't automatically receive updates, and the files are not "caught" so they are not available offline, in the car, etc. What this all means is that the shows essentially act and feel like broadcasted programs you would hear on the radio (and indeed many radio show are also available on podcasts), but they can be listened to wherever and whenever you listen to audio! That means via computer, or portable MP3 playing device while mowing your lawn, driving your car, flying in a plane, waiting in an airport, eating lunch, etc. While perhaps not as big a fundamental advancement to the world as the initial ability for any individual to post “web page”, or the ability to create one's own news & comment page (web log, or “Blog” for short), podcasting could be a solid runner up – perhaps just behind TIVO and satellite radio. It is both a significant change in the way content is distributed, and in the barriers to entry – allowing just about anyone to create and distribute his/her own syndicated radio or TV show. Is that not HUGE? There are well over 40 million I-Pods in place, millions of other MP3 players, and more being sold every second of every day. The applications are truly expansive. For instance, I’m a big fan of books on audio while driving in my car, and I obtain all of them via the internet and play them on my IPOD when I’m in the car. (I pay for books through the Itunes Music Store, or through www.audible.com). Much as satellite radio and TIVO are shaping the way we listen to and view programs on our own schedules, and also expand the specialization and customization of content available to us, so too is “Podcasting” doing the same thing. But just as the internet allowed tremendously specialized contented delivery that would never have been economically viable in mass media, so too is Podcasting bringing people together by common areas of interest, study, peer support, and much more. But what are the applications today? Just take a look at the podcast listings on the I-Tunes Music Store at www.itunes.com (subscribe to my podcast while you're there), or the yahoo listings at www.podcast.yahoo.com. What you’ll find is that your favorite national radio shows may well be available. I particularly like listening to Penn Jillette’s radio show out of Las Vegas, or “Meet The Press” from NBC news’ Tim Russert, but there are hundreds of both “big name” shows, and thousands of special interest programs available. They range from walking tours of golf courses to critical thinking, news, music, sports, religion, science, and anything else you can imagine – and growing. Your local arts council could post a walking tour of your city’s art or architecture – so all could hear and experience the guided tour at the time of their choosing. Companies will reduce required time for salespeople to read countless emails each day, by allowing educational, training, and informational content to be listened to during otherwise unproductive “windshield time.” Your group can podcast its meeting audio for the public, and your church can podcast it’s service so others can listen at their convenience during the week. The applications are many. Just as with web sites and blogs, some are good and some are bad. And in fact as this technology is literally exploding, the "airwaves" will get crowed, and the consumers will ultimately decide what content has value, and what doesn’t. Remember the lunacy of some early web “hope pages”? No, I didn’t need to look at a guy’s fish tank every day. That got boring. So that brings us back to the real news of the Truth-Driven Thinking Podcast. I’m delighted to announce that it is already on the air! It has begun with a series of broadcasts that are the chapters of my audiobook. This FREE distribution of the book is already gaining popularity and listenership beyond my expectations. But this is only the beginning! Join in the fun here! |
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